Liverpool Count on Bradley as Future Right-Back Against Arsenal

Arne Slot, Liverpool’s head coach, confirmed Conor Bradley will start Sunday’s big match against Arsenal as the club prepares for the future without Trent Alexander-Arnold.

BRADLEY STARTS

Conor Bradley will be in Liverpool’s starting lineup against Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday. The 21-year-old Northern Ireland player is getting a chance as Liverpool looks ahead to next season. Slot said the choice is part of long-term planning: “Conor Bradley will start on Sunday because he needs more games under his belt to prepare for next season. We trust him, for sure.”

Bradley, with 54 senior Liverpool appearances, is currently the only recognized right-back after Alexander-Arnold announced he won’t renew his contract ending this summer. He would have started last weekend against Chelsea but wasn’t fully fit from a recent injury.

ALEXANDER-ARNOLD LEAVING

Starting Bradley follows Alexander-Arnold’s Monday announcement that he won’t extend his 20-year Liverpool association. His contract ends this summer, with many reports suggesting a move to Real Madrid. This leaves a big gap in Liverpool’s defense.

Despite leading the league, Alexander-Arnold’s exit is a big challenge for the club. Slot admitted it’s tough to replace him: “That’s the most difficult thing for a club like Liverpool if you just won the league is that it is not easy to find better players than we already have.”

PLANNING AHEAD

While Bradley may compete for the right-back spot next season, Liverpool might still seek depth and experience in the transfer market. Slot has been cautious about discussing specific transfer plans but admitted that “transfer fees sometimes are” a problem for the club when looking for high-quality replacements.

Liverpool’s next match against Arsenal will be crucial as they look to maintain their momentum at the top of the Premier League. The Reds have already secured the league title but will be keen to finish the season strongly against fellow title challengers Arsenal, who are looking to bounce back after falling short in the title race.

Sunday’s match will provide a valuable opportunity for Bradley to showcase his abilities against top-level opposition as Liverpool begin their transition to a new era at right-back.